April 14, 2016 Minor League Report
By Jay Blue
Blue Jays from Away
With their game the final one still being played on Thursday night, the Lansing Lugnuts took a loss to spoil what would have been a perfect night for the Blue Jays’ minor league affiliates. Still, the Bisons, Fisher Cats and Dunedin Blue Jays all won, just like the major league squad.

Buffalo Bisons 2, Rochester Red Wings 1
The Bisons celebrated a win in their home opener on Thursday, beating the Rochester Red Wings 2-1 to square their record at 4-4. Scott Diamond was excellent in his second outing of the year, throwing seven strong innings, striking out five and giving up just one run on six hits. Ryan Tepera struck out the side in the eighth and David Aardsma notched his third save with a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out another.

The Bisons only had five hits, getting an RBI single from Andy Burns (who went 2/4 and was caught stealing) and an RBI double from Junior Lake who was 1/2 with a walk. Dalton Pompey also contributed with a double in four at bats.

Player of the Game: Scott Diamond

Roster Notes: Bobby Korecky was activated off the DL to take Pat Venditte’s place on the roster.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Trenton Thunder 5
The Fisher Cats also celebrated a win in their official home opener (although they’ve been playing the wandering Hartford Yard Goats at home for the past few games) 6-5 in 10 innings over the Trenton Thunder. Starter Luis Santos was effective, striking out eight batters in 5 2/3 innings but he also gave up four runs on three hits and three walks. Murphy Smith struck out four in 2 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while Chris Smith blew the save, allowing the Thunder to tie up the game in the ninth inning on a solo home run. Wil Browning only needed to pitch to one batter (whom he struck out) in the 10th inning to earn the win.

The Fisher Cats got a good rally in the 10th, overcoming Jon Berti’s leadoff single getting picked off but with two outs, Rowdy Tellez took a walk and he was replaced with Ian Parmley as a runner. Parmley stole second base and came in to score on Melky Mesa’s ground ball single. Berti had a pair of hits, an RBI and a stolen base while Mesa was 2/5, also scoring a run. K.C. Hobson was 2/4 with a double, two runs and an RBI.

Player of the Game: Melky Mesa and K.C. Hobson

Dunedin Blue Jays 3, St. Lucie Mets 0
Lefty Ryan Borucki rebounded from a rough start in his first outing of the year, and got enough help from the offense to secure his first win of the year, 3-0 over the St. Lucie Mets. Borucki was very efficient, facing only three batters over the minimum, particularly by helping himself, picking off a batter and catching one stealing. Borucki finished with just four hits and one walk allowed in his five innings, striking out two. Adonys Cardona followed, giving up only two hits in 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts while Tim Mayza finished the game, earning the save with 2 2/3 no-hit innings, walking one and striking out three.

The offense spread ten hits out among six players with Jonathan Davis hitting his second home run of the year, going 2/3. Jason Leblebijian and D.J. Davis each had two hits, a stolen base and one RBI each while Dickie Joe Thon was 2/4 with a stolen base. Ryan McBroom was 1/4 with a double and Christian Lopes had the other hit.

Player of the Game: Ryan Borucki and Jonathan Davis

Lansing Lugnuts 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 8
Despite throwing a lot of pitches, Jon Harris was solid for the Lugnuts and the bullpen and defense let the team down, allowing the Bowling Green Hot Rods to drive around the bases eight times in an 8-4 loss for the Lansings. Harris went four innings, needing 65 pitches, giving up one unearned run on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts while Tayler Saucedo, after a strong Lansing debut in his last outing, allowed seven runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks with one strikeout. Dusty Isaacs retired the last two batters of the game, getting a strikeout.

Shortstop J.C. Cardenas shouldered the responsibility for this one, committing three errors in the field which led to all but three of the Hot Rods’ runs being unearned. Cardenas was 1/3 at the plate with a walk but wasn’t involved in any of the Lugnuts’ scoring. Lane Thomas hit his first home run of the year, going 2/4 with a run while Andrew Guillotte saw his batting average drop to .500 after a 2/5 game that included two RBI and a run. Connor Panas, playing left field, was also 2/4.

Player of the Game: Andrew Guillotte and Lane Thomas

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